The document classifies buildings into 9 groups (A-I) based on occupancy as per the National Building Code of India (NBC). It describes the different sub-categories within each group. Group A is for residential buildings, Group B for educational buildings, and so on. It provides details on the sub-categories for Groups E (business buildings), F (mercantile buildings), G (industrial buildings), H (storage buildings), and I (hazardous buildings). The classification is based on the main use or activities carried out in the building.

1. SANJIVANI RURAL EDUCATION SOCIETY'S
SANJIVANI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, KOPARGAON
-DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING-
BY
Prof. D. C. Dharwad (Assistant Professor)
Mail ID- danappadharwad@gmail.com

3. TYPES OF BUILDINGS CONTINUES…

4. TYPES OF BUILDINGS BASED ON OCCUPANCY AS PER NBC
A building may be classified based on different parameters like occupancy, load transfer in the
structure, materials used, degree of fire resistance, etc. NBC Classifies the buildings in the
following nine groups based on occupancy:
Group A- Residential buildings Group B -Educational buildings
Group C- Institutional buildings Group D- Assembly buildings
Group E- Business buildings Group F- Mercantile buildings
Group G- Industrial buildings Group H- Storage buildings
Group I- Hazardous buildings.

5. Group E- Business buildings
• These shall include any building or portion thereof which is used for any business transaction other
than mercantile, such as new stands, lunch counters for less than 100 people, barber shops and
beauty parlors. This occupancy shall be subdivided as follows:
Office
• These shall include any building or part thereof which is used for paper works, documentations,
only display of samples of products but not for direct sale, maintaining accounts and records for
administrative or consulting services, banking or activities for business purposes and professional
training.

6. Research and testing laboratories
• These shall include any building or portion thereof which is used as research establishment and/
or test laboratory involving hazardous materials within the limit of exempted quantity
permitted in this code.
Essential services
• These shall include any building or portion thereof used for purposes of providing emergency
services and utilities which are required to remain operational during and after a disaster or
other emergency situations.

7. Group F - Mercantile buildings
• This occupancy type shall include any building or portion thereof or group of buildings which
is used for display and sale of merchandises. This occupancy shall be subdivided as follows:
Small shops and market
• These shall include any building or portion thereof with an area divided or undivided not
exceeding 300 m², used for purposes of display and sale of merchandise, either wholesale or
retail, with or without incidental storage and service facilities.

8. Large shops and market
• These shall include any building or portion thereof with an area divided or undivided more than
300 m² used for purposes of display and sale of merchandise, either wholesale or retail, with or
without incidental storage and service facilities.
Refueling station
• These shall include any building or portion thereof used for providing refueling and
maintenance without repair services for automobiles which is moderately hazardous in nature.

9. Group G - Industrial buildings
Buildings under this occupancy shall be subdivided on the basis of hazard potential of the contents
and processes of the industry.
The hazard shall generally mean the relative danger of the start of fire and the rapidity of its spread,
the danger of smoke and gases generated that pose a potential threat to the safety of the occupants of the
building.
Unless areas with different degrees of hazard are effectively segregated and separated in accordance
with the provisions of the code, the most hazardous area in a building shall govern its classification.
This occupancy shall also include facilities for public utility services at the producer or distributor’s
end that deals with generation and distribution of utility facilities.

10. Any such building or portion thereof, which is not using hazardous material is quantified and
categorized in occupancy group J, shall be subdivided as follows
Low hazard industry
• These shall include any industrial building in which the contents are of such low combustibility
and the processes conducted therein are of such low hazardous nature that danger of self-
ignition and self-propagation of fire is nonexistent, the only danger being an onset of fire from
external sources with the resulting danger to life and property.
Moderate hazard industry
• These shall include any industrial building in which the contents are moderately combustible
and the industrial processes conducted therein are liable to give rise to a fire which will spread
with moderate rapidity, giving off considerable smoke.

11. GROUP H - STORAGE BUILDINGS
Buildings under this occupancy group shall include any building or portion thereof used primarily for
storage or sheltering of goods, wares, merchandises, vehicles or animals.
Any such building or portion thereof, which is not used for storing hazardous materials is quantified
and categorized in occupancy group J, shall be subdivided as follows:
Low fire-risk storage
• These shall include any building or portion thereof which is used for storage of materials or other
contents which do not constitute the danger of self-ignition, and in the event of fire the rate of burning
shall be less than moderate rapidity.
Moderate fire-risk storage
• These shall include any building or portion thereof which is used for storage of materials which do not
constitute the danger of self-ignition but which in the event of fire will burn with moderate rapidity.

12. GROUP I- HAZARDOUS BUILDINGS.
• Any building or portion thereof used as storage, industrial, research and other facilities dealing with
hazardous material in excess of exempted quantity or any micro-biological facilities shall be
categorized in this occupancy group.
Explosion hazard buildings
• These shall include any building or portion thereof which is used for storage, handling, processing or
manufacture of explosive materials and products that have explosion hazard.
Chemical hazard buildings
• These shall include any building or portion thereof which is used for storage, handling, processing or
manufacture of materials and products that are highly corrosive, toxic, poisonous and physically
harmful including corrosive and toxic alkalis, acid or other liquids or chemicals, producing flame,
fumes, radiation, and explosive, poisonous, irritant and corrosive gases.

13. Biological hazard buildings
• These shall include any building or portion thereof which is used for storage, handling, processing or
manufacture of materials and products that use biological processes and in which the risk of harmful
biological threat to the occupants exist.
Radiation hazard buildings
• These shall include any building or portion thereof which is used for storage, handling, processing or
manufacture of materials and products that use nuclear and radioactive processes and in which the risk
of radioactive contamination exists.

14. THANK YOU